It is no secret that Christmas is the one and onlyholiday for which I go ALL OUT. When early December rolls around, the boxes come out of the attic and it is on. 🙂

The goal each year is to look at what we have with fresh eyes (try it – it’s like shopping your own stuff) and rarely do items end up in the same location from year to year (‘cuz that would be boring now wouldn’t it? 😉 )

Don’t believe me? Well, you can check out the 2010 and 2011 line-ups to see what I’m talking about. If I do say so myself, I think I just may have out-done myself this year. So, grab a glass of eggnog and turn up your favorite holiday music (Trans Siberian Orchestra is playing here) and enjoy the tour! 🙂

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As promised, here are the revelations as to what the images I posted yesterday in Abstract Realityactually are! Everyone had really, reallygood guesses! I was veryimpressed! 🙂

First image: Grill Cover Tear

“Fissure” (Grill Cover Tear)

I focussed in tight on that top corner and then converted the image to b&w. Boy, this thing is really in sad shape, huh? 😉

Second image: Rusty Metal Wing of Hummingbird Garden Stake

“Wired” (Rusty Metal Wing of Hummingbird Garden Stake)

I composed this image using just the wing of the hummingbird garden stake. Because the leaf-strewn ground color was so close to the warm colors of the wing I decided to desaturate the entire image and then selectively bring back those wonderful rusted tones of the metal. Works for me! 😉

Third image: Rusty Saw Blade on Dirty Grill Cover

“Rusted” (Rusty Saw Blade on Dirty Grill Cover)

Yep, nothing more than a very rusty saw blade on a very dirty grill cover. Can’t fake this kind of texture! 🙂

Fourth image: Grill Cover Mesh Panel

“Grilled” (Grill Cover Mesh Panel)

Okay, I admit it, this one really wasn’t fairbut Scott never said we had to play fair. 😉 Inverting the colors on the mesh part of the grill cover with the very reflective stainless steel behind gave this abstract a sequin-ish look (I really liked that guess, Kiwi! 🙂 )

Fifth image: Star Suncatcher

“Inprismed” (Star Suncatcher)

Going in close on the center portion of a bevelled-glass star suncatcher made for an interesting abstract. Except for the blue center, the glass is actually clear and gains its colors by reflecting all that is around it (green/blue tones from the evergreen trees close by and warm tones from the leaves and cedar mulch that lay below). My, that 105mm lens gives a lovely shallow depth of field at such a close range, doesn’t it? 😉

Sixth image: The Inside of a Sunflower Bird Bath

“Rosebud” (The Inside of a Sunflower Bird Bath)

I figured most would guess this one! (Does it make up for the grill cover mesh image? 😉 ) The inside of my sunflower bird bath has such interesting patterns and textures. Small red buds from the tree overhead added just that tiny pop of needed color.

Seventh image: Water Bottle with Reflection

“I.C.U.” (Water Bottle with Reflection)

My trusty Cool Gear water bottle! LOVE that it is orange and hot pink! (Yeah, sometimes I’m really such a girl). This thing is GIANT and is with me pretty much at all times when home. One evening, it was sitting on my desk when I noticed the light from the monitor was creating an eerie glow as well as a very cool miniature reflection of the bottom ring in the water line above. I played with many different compostions and angles and ended up liking how this one looks cyborg–ish.

A pair of legs (if I recall, belonging to a man) wearing white pants and red sneakers. This shot was taken pretty much by accident while watching a parade in the Magic Kingdom and aside from a slight levels adjustment, is straight out of the camera.

Who knew the garden task of pulling weeds would lead to today’s photo?

Some rather tall and slender plants were growing amongst my daylilies so I began to pull them. While doing so, I noticed the very pretty (and ever-so-tiny) star-shaped flowers and apricot buds eminating out from the center stem.

A quick google search revealed that the “weed” is a actually a native wildflower called ‘Whorled Loosestrife’, which came as little surprise since it closely resembles the perennial ‘Yellow Loosestrife’ I have planted about 10 yards away.

So, rather than pulling them all, I simply thinned what was interfering with the daylilies and left the others to continue to thrive as Mother Nature intended.

Happy Sunday!

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